Slug casting machine



Oct. 7, 1941. 'P'. HILPMAN. SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS I Oct. 7, 1941".

P. HILPMAN .SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2' A TTORNEKi P... HILPMAN 2,257,845

SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed July 2'7. 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 N VENTOR A TTORN Y6 Oct. 7, 1941.

P. HILPMANY I 2,25 7,845

' SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1940 4 Shets-Sheet 4 11v VENTOR .4 TTORNEYO Patented Oct. 7, 1941 SLUG CASTING MACHINE Paul Hilpman, Garden City, N. Y., assignor to Mergcnthaler Linotype Company, a corporation of New York Application July 27, 1940, Serial No. 347,886

29 Claims.

This invention relates to slug casting machines of the character wherein a composed line of matrices is presented to the face of a slotted mold, the mold filled with molten metal to form a type car or slug against the matrices which produce the type characters thereon, and the type bar or slug ejected from the mold by an ejector blade which advances against the rear edge of the slug.

To enable slugs of dilierent measures to be cast, such machines are provided with a plurality of molds (usually four in number) mounted on a disc which is rotated by a power driven pinion. In the normal position of the parts, the mold in use is located in the slug ejecting position. During the casting cycle, however, the disc is given, first, a quarter rotation to move the mold into slug casting position and then, after the slug has been cast, a three-quarter rotation in the same direction to move the mold back to its original or slug ejecting position. Assuming the machine is at rest, a different mold may be substituted for the one in use by pulling the mold disc turning pinion forwardly to uncouple it from its driving mechanism, then rotating it manually to bring the desired mold on the mold disc into active position, and thereafter pushing the pinion rearwardly to recouple it to its driving mechanism.

The ejector blade employed in such machines comprises, ordinarily, a main ejector slide and a series of blade sections arranged edge to edge in contacting relation, provision being made for connecting any desired number of blade sections to the ejector slide while the other sections remain at rest. In consequence, every time a mold of one length is substituted for a mold of another length, an adjustment must be made in the number of effective blade sections so that their combined width will accord with the length of the slot in the newly selected mold,

According to the present invention, the required adjustment in the width of the ejector blade is effected automatically upon the substitution of one mold for another. To this end, the machine is equipped with suitable mechanism which acts to restore the ejector blade mechanism to a neutral position, wherein the ejector lection of a mold, acts to adjust the Width of the ejector blade in accordance with the slot length of the newly selected mold. The adjustment is controlled by instrumentalities associated with the selected mold and which vary as between the different molds in accordance with the length of the mold slot therein.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a slug casting machine equipped with the present improvements Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the train of connections between the mold turning pinion and the ejector adjusting devices;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2 and illustrating the position of the parts after the ejector blade has been adjusted during the first machine cycle after mold selection;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing certain of the parts of Fig. 3 in the positions they will assume when the ejector mechanism has been adjusted to a neutral position by the uncoupling movement of the mold turning pinion;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 3 preparatory to the adjustment of the ejector mechanism during the machine cycle succeeding the selection of a mold;

Fig. 6 is a partial front elevation showing the selected mold in casting position and the manner in-which the liner of the selected mold acts in controlling the adjustment of the ejector mechanism;

Fig. '7 illustrates, in perspective, the form of several mold liners used in connection with the invention;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 8--8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but showing the parts in a difierent position; and

Fig. 10 is a rear elevation of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1, the machine is shown with a mold disc A equipped with four molds A A A and. A the mold A being the one in active position. During a machine cycle of operation, the mold disc A is rotated by a power driven pinion B, first, through a quarter rotation in a counterclockwise direction to carry the mold then in use from its vertical ejecting position to a horizontal casting position, and thereafter through threequarters of 'a' rotation in the same direction to carry the mold back to its vertical ejecting position. As usual, the mold disc turning pinion B is mounted on a fore-and-aft power driven shaft 15 (Fig. 2), being connected thereto by an intermediate coupling member B fast to the shaft and provided with a pin B projecting forwardly into a recess B formed in the pinion B. In order to substitute a different mold for the one in use, the pinion B is pulled forwardly by means of a hand wheel B formed integrally therewith, until the coupling pin B clears the recess B whereupon the pinion may be rotated manually,

free of its driving shaft, to turn the mold disc A to bring the selected mold into active position. The gear ratio between the turning pinion and the mold disc is 1 to 4. Consequently, for any adjustment of the mold disc which brings a mold into active position, the coupling pin B will align with the recess B in the pinion and, after the selected mold has been brought into active position, the pinion is moved rearwardly to reengage the pin in the recess and so recouple the pinion to its drive shaft.

The slug ejecting mechanism herein employed is of the sort shown and described in U. S. Letters Patent No. 967,976, granted to J. R. Rogers on August 23, 1910. In general, it comprises a series of blade sections C arranged edge to edge and guided between a side plate C1 and the mold slide C (Figs. 1 and 2). The sections C are actuated by individualhorizontal slides C mounted in grooves formed in th-emold slide and which are connected to the ejector slide C by a vertically movable bar C The bar C is slidably mounted in a groove out in the face of the ejector slide at the rear ends of the horizontal slides C and is adjusted upwardly and downwardly to connect any selected number of blade sections to the ejector slide for operation thereby. The bar C at its lower end, is formed with an offset portion slidably mounted on a foreand-aft rod C carried by a slide 0' which, in turn, is guided for vertical movement in a bracket C secured to the main frame of the machine. Thus, it will be seen that by adjusting the slide C upwardly or downwardly into different positions, the connecting bar C will be correspondingly adjusted so that any desired number of blade sections can be rendered active.

Coming now to the present invention:

The slide 0 is adjusted to its different positions through the medium of a fore-and-aft lever D fulcrumed adjacent its center in a fixed portion of the machine and bifurcated at its rear end to engage a pin C projecting laterally from said slide (Figs. 1 and 2). The lever D is urged in a counterclockwise dir ction (looking at the parts from the left) by a spring D connected thereto just rearwardly of its fulcrum point and which is anchored at its lower end in a fixed part of the machine frame. Normally, however, the adjustmentof the lever D, and consequently the adjustment of the slide C and the bar C is maintained by a pawl D pivotally mounted at the front end of the lever D and spring-pressed into engagement with one or another of a series of ratchet teeth D formed in the upper front edge of a vertical arm D The arm D is moun ed at its lower end on a stationary pivot and is maintained in a fixed position throughout the normal operation of the machine (Figs. 1 and 2). The particular ratchet tooth D with which the pawl D engages determines the number of ejector blade sections which will be operatively connected to the ejector slide. Thus, if the pawl engages the topmost ratchet tooth, only the lowermost blade section will be operative; on the other hand, if the pawl engages the lowermost ratchet tooth, all of the blade sections will be operative. Between the two extremes, the pawl can be adjusted so that any desired number of blade sections, as required by the length of the slot in the active mold, will be rendered active.

Upon the adjustment of the mold disc A to bring a newly selected mold into use, the vertical bar C is first adjusted to a neutral position, i. e., the bar is moved downwardly so that no blade section or at least only the lowermost blade section will be connected to the ejector slid-e. This is accomplished by moving rearwardly the vertical arm D so as to disengage the pawl D from the ratchet teeth thereon. When the pawl is thus disengaged, the fore-and-aft lever D will be turned in a counterclockwise direction under the action of its associated spring D thereby pulling downwardly the slide C", and consequently the bar G with the result just mentioned.

The rearward movement of the arm D to effect disengagement of the pawl D therefrom, is accomplished by the forward or uncoupling movement of the mold disc pinion B preparatory to adjusting the mold disc to bring a newly selected mold into use. The mechanism for the purpose includes a long arm E which, at its lower end, is pinned near the l ft end of a transverse rock shaft E and which, at its upper end, stands immediately in front of the mold turning pinion l3. There is sufficient clearance between the arm E and the pinion B so that no interference will be offered to the rotary movement of the pinion during normal machine operation, such disposition of the parts being determined by a stud E extending rearwardly from the arm near its upper end and which engages against a fixed surface of the machine frame (Fi 2). Normally, the position of the arm E is maintained by a tension spring E connected at one end to the arm and having a fixed anchorage at its other end. The transverse rock shaft E extends across the front of the machine and, at the end opposite that to which the arm E is connected, there is secured a short crank arm E which, at its lower end, is interconnected with the vertical arm D by a link E said link being connected to the arm just above the pivotal support thereof (Figs. 1 and 2).

The connections just described are such that, when the mold turning pinion B is moved forwardly preparatory to the rotary adjustment of the mold disc A, the long vertical arm E is rocked by such movement to the position shown in Fig. 4, thereby moving the vertical arm 13* rearwardly and out of engagement with the pawl D Such disengagement of the pawl permits the ejector mechanism to be adjusted to its neutral position in the manner above described.

Thereupon the operator rotates the mold disc pinion B to bring the newly selected mold into the normal or slug ejecting position and then recouples the pinion with its driving shaft B by moving the pinion rearwardly until it reengages with the coupling pin B Such movement of the pinion permits the long vertical arm E to be restored to its normal position under the action of its spring E The arm E, in turn, restores the ratchet arm D to its normal position, it being understood, however, that the ejector mechanism, at this time, still remains in neutral position.

In carrying out the present invention, the actual adjustment of the ejector blade is effected in the first machine cycle of operation af er mold selection, the power for the purpose being derived from the main cam shaft of the machine, and the extent of adjustment being determined by the lefthand mold liner which is made to project beyond the left end of the mold a distance depending upon the length of the mold slot.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be observed that each mold, as usual, consists of a body portion a screwed to the mold disc, a cap portion a secured to the body portion, and two intermediate liners a located one at each end of the mold and which, together with the cap and body portions, define the mold slot. The length of the right-hand liner a is fixed. The liner (1 at the left, however, Varies in length depending upon the length of slug to be cast. In other words, the shorter the slug, the longer will be the liner, since the amount by which the liner extends into the mold is inversely proportional to the length of the slug cast.

In the present instance, each lefthand liner a is formed at its left end with a projecting portion a (Fig. 7), the length of which varies according to the length of the mold slot. Where the mold slot is short (thus requiring a long liner), the projecting portion a is relatively long; whereas the mold slot is long (requiring a short liner), the projecting portion is relatively short. The manner in which these projecting portions of different lengths cooperate in the adjustment of the ejector blade width will presently appear.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be observed that the ejector adjusting lever D, at its front end, is connected, by means of a link F, to a long transverse lever F fulcrumed just left of its center on a fixed portion of the machine. At its left end, the lever F presents a pin F playing in a vertical slot F formed in the lower end of a long vertical link F which extends upwardly to approximately the level of the mold in casting position, where it (the link) is pivotally connected to a crank arm F having a hub portion journalled in a fixed portion of the machine frame. Another arm F extending from the hub portion, is arranged to engage the left end of a horizontal slide G mounted, by means of a pair of pin and slot connections G on a fixed portion of the machine and located in a position wherein it aligns with the projection a on the liner (1 of the mold in horizontal casting position. While the slide G is normally held in its leftmost position (as shown in Fig. 1) by a tension spring Gr connected between the slide and a fixed portion of the machine, it is capable of moving a distance to the right sufiicient to engage the shortest projection a with which any of the liners is equipped. The slot F at the lower end of the vertical link F is of sufficient length to accommodate the full range through which the pin F can be moved by the lever F for any adjustment of the pawl D In other words, the length of the slot F is such that, when the pawl D is moved to its uppermost position (corresponding to an ejector blade adjustment of minimum or zero width), the pin F will engage the lower end of the slot; whereas when the pawl D is moved to its lowermost position (corresponding to a maximum ejector blade width adjustment), the pin F will stand just below the upper end of the slot, assuming in both instances that the link F is in its normal or lowermost position.

When the pawl D has been adjusted to its neutral position by the forward movement of the mold turning pinion B in the manner previously described, the pin F will be located at the lower end ,of the slot F as just stated (see Fig. 10), and it will remain in that position when the pinion B is recoupled with its drive shaft after the selected mold has been brought into active position.

As the casting cycle is started with the newly selected mold, in active (ejecting) position, a quarter rotation of the mold disc carries the selected mold into the horizontal or slug casting position. Thereupon, the mold slide on which the mold disc is mounted moves forwardly into engagement with the composed line of matrices and the slug cast. Meanwhile, the main cam shaft M of the machine has rotated through approximately ninety degrees from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3, causing the lobe M of a cam M to engage an antifriction roller H on the rear end of a long fore-andaft lever H pivotally mounted between its ends on a fixed portion of the machine (see also Fig. 3). The lever H is constantly urged by a spring H connected to it in advance of its fulcrum point, in a direction to cause the antifriction roller H to track upon the cam M, and said lever is connected at its front end to the aforementioned long vertical link F through the medium of an intermediate tension spring H When the lobe M on the cam M engages the antifriction roller H, as just stated, the lever H is swung in a counterclockwise direction, thereby lifting the vertical link F through a distance determined by the length of the projection a on the mold liner of the selected mold which now is horizontally located and in its advance position for the slug casting operation (Fig. 6). In other words, as the vertical link F is raised, the arm F (to which it is connected at the top) turns the hub portion, of which it forms a part, to effect the engagement of the other arm portion F thereof with the horizontal slide G, the latter being pushed to the right until it is arrested by banking against the liner projection a As the vertical link F moves upwardly, it swings the transverse lever F to which it is connected in a clock-wise direction and since, at the start of such upward movement, the pin F at the left end of said lever is located at the lower end of the slot F the pawl D will be pulled downwardly along the ratchet teeth D a distance proportional to the extent that the vertical link F is permitted to move upwardly by the liner projection a of the selected mold. To state it differently, the projection a presents a reference banking surface, the position of which determines the extent through which the vertical link F is adjusted. Now, since the extent of pawl movement along the ratchet teeth in turn determines the adjustment of the vertical bar C through which the ejector blade sections 0 are connected to the ejector slide, it follows that the adjusted width of the ejector blade will correspond with the slot length of the selected mold.

The throw of the cam controlled lever H is sufficient to provide for the full range of pawl adjustment but, since the spring H constitutes a yielding connection between the lever and the vertical link F it will make no difference in the operation of the lever that the movement of the vertical link is less than full range, as would be the case where the adjusted ejector blade is of less than maximum width. As the lob M of the cam travels beyond the antifriction roller H, the lever H returns to its normal position under the action of its associated spring H This, in turn, relieves the tension on the intermediate connecting spring H and also returns to normal position the vertical link F the latter being provided with a projection f, underlying the lever H and which is engaged by the lever for this purpose. As the vertical link F is restored to normal position, it frees the slide G which then is pulled back to its normal position by the spring G The slide G is located sufficiently far in front of the mold disc so as not to interfere with its advance movement into engagement with the line. In other words, the slide G is in fore-and-aft registry with the projection a of the mold liner only during the period that the mold engages the line. This period gives ampletime to complete the ejector adjustment previously described. The forward location of the slide G also insures clearance for the mold disc during its rotation which, of course, occurs only when the disc is in its retracted position.

While no harm would occur should the vertical link F be actuated during each casting cycle of operation, there is no necessity therefor and, since it would occasion undue wear on the parts, provision is made for locking the link out of action except in the casting cycle immediately succeeding the selection of a mold. The mechanism for this purpose includes a vertical latch bar J pivotally mounted at its upper end for swinging movement in a fore-and-aft vertical plane and formed with a forwardly projecting lug J located so as to overlie a similar projecting lug F formed on a lateral edge of the vertical link F (Figs. 1, 2 and 5). During normal machine operation, the latch bar J acts to prevent upward movement of the vertical link F, the interconnecting spring l-I under such conditions merely yielding as the lever H is operated (Fig. 3). However, during the selection of a mold, the latch bar J is disabled so that the link F can operate during the succeeding machine cycle.

portion, respectively. However, when the transverse lever F is moved in a counterclockwise direction during the adjustment of the ejector blade mechanism to its neutral position by the forward movement of the mold turning pinion B in the manner previously described, the lug F on said lever moves downwardly into engagement with the nose portion on the latch bar, thereby pushing the latter rearwardly to the position shown in Fig. 5, in which position it is held by the interengagement of the vertical surfaces on the nose portion J and the lug F When the parts are thus located, the lug J on the latch bar stands clear of the underlying lug F on the vertical link F so that the latter is free to move upwardly when the parts are operated. However, when the transverse lever F is turned in a clockwise direction as the ejector mechanism is set in the machine cycle succeeding mold selection, the lug F thereon moves upwardly to clear the nose J at the lower end of the latch bar, thereby permitting the latter to return to its normal position and to hang free. Consequently, as the vertical link F is moved downwardly to its normal position, the lug F thereon will engage the lug J on the latch bar, pushing the latter aside but permitting it to return as the lug F rides past the lug J Then the lug J will overlie the lug F on the link F and lock it against operation during subsequent machine cycles or until the selection of a different mold is made.

For one reason or another, it occasionally becomes necessary to pull the mold disc forwardly, out of engagement with the mold disc turning pinion, leaving the latter coupled with its driving shaft. Under such conditions, it is essential that the mold disc and pinion have the same relative positions upon the return of the mold disc; otherwise the setting of the ejector blade might not be proper for the mold inadvertently located in active position. To forestall any such improper location of the mold disc, there is provided a slide K (Figs. 1, 8 and 9) arranged in a fore-and-aft recess K formed in a fixed bracket located near the edge of the mold disc and somewhat in advance of the normal position thereof. The slide is connected in the recess by a pair of pin and slot connections K the slots of which are so disposed that as the slide is pulled outwardly toward the front of the machine, its connections will cause it to have a parallel motion in a radial direction toward the disc. The extent of movement permitted is sufficient to allow the free edge of the slide to engage between the teeth of the mold disc.

In Fig. 8, the normal positions of the mold disc A and pinion B are shown in phantom lines. The slide K is in its active position, its dimensions being such that when the disc A is moved to the position shown by the solid lines, the slide will engage between a pair of disc teeth and thus prevent the relative locations of the disc and pinion from being disturbed. If it is desired to rotate the disc while in its forward position, the slide K could be moved to its inactive position as shown in Fig. 9. Then, of course, the operator would have to exercise care to insure the proper relative location between the pinion and disc When the latter is restored to its normal position, or that the ejector blade is properly adjusted if the disc is restored with a different mold in active position. The slide K is formed in its front end with a finger hole K to facilitate its adjustment.

Finally, it may be stated, the machine is equipped as usual with devices for indicating the setting of the ejector blade. For this purpose, there is provided a long bar L pivotally connected at the front end of the ejector adjusting lever D andextending upwardly to a position somewhat above the lower end of the machine front plate L (Fig. 1). The bar L, at its upper end, stands behind the front plate and is guided at the top for vertical movement by means not shown, The front edge of the bar is marked with symbols arranged one above another, indicating various mold lengths, one or another of which is visible through an aperture L in the front plate depending upon the position of the bar. Since the position of the bar depends upon the setting of the ejector adjusting lever D, it is apparent that the various settings of the lever can be indicated in terms of mold length, assuming that proper symbols, corresponding to the various settings, are used.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention has beenshown merely in preferred form and by way of example, but obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted molds mounted on a disc arranged for rotary adjustment by a driving pinion to bring any selected mold into use, which pinion is movable to uncouple it from and recouple it with its driving mechanism before and after such rotary adjustment of the disc respectively, and with an ejector mechanism adjustable as to blade width to correspond With the slot length of the selected mold; characterized in this, that the mechanism provided for effecting such ejector blade adjustment includes devices controlled by said movement of the driving pinion for effecting a neutral setting of the ejector mechanism, means also controlled by said movement of the driving pinion and operable during the first machine cycle after the selection of a mold by the rotary adjustment of the disc to effect the proper adjustment of the ejector mechanism, and instrumentalities associated with the selected mold for controlling such adjustment.

2. A slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted molds mounted on a disc arranged for rotary adjustment by a driving pinion to bring any selected mold into use, which pinion is movable to uncouple it from and recouple it with the driving mechanism before and after such rotary adjustment of the disc respectively, and with an ejector mechanism adjustable as to blade width to correspond with the slot length of the selected mold; characterized in this, that the mechanism provided for effecting such ejector blade adjustment includes devices controlled by said movement of the driving pinion for effecting a neutral setting of the ejector mechanism, power operated means acting only during the first machine cycle after the selection of a mold by the rotary adjustment of the disc to effect the proper adjustment of the elector mechanism, and instrumentalities associated with the selected mold for controlling such adjustment.

3. A slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted molds mounted on a disc arranged for rotary adjustment by a driving pinion to bring any selected mold into use, which pinion is movable to uncouple it from and recouple it with the driving mechanism before and after such rotary adjustment of the disc respectively, and with an ejector mechanism adjustable as to blade Width to correspond with the slot length of the selected mold; characterized in this, that the mechanism provided for effecting such ejector blade adjustment includes devices controlled by said movement of the driving pinion for effecting a neutral setting of the ejector mechanism, means operated directly from the main cam shaft of the machine and acting during the first machine cycle after the selection of a mold to effect the proper adjustment of the ejector mechanism, and instrumentalities associated with the selected mold for controlling such adjustment.

4. A slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted molds mounted on a disc arranged for rotary adjustment by a driving pinion to bring any selected mold into use, which pinion is movable to uncouple it from and recouple it with its driving mechanism before and after such rotary adjustment of the disc respectively, and with an ejector mechanism adjustable as to blade width to correspond with the slot length of the selected mold; characterized in this, that the mechanism provided for effecting such ejector blade adjustment includes devices controlled by said movement of the driving pinion for effecting a neutral setting of the ejector mechanism, means rendered operable likewise by said movement of the driving pinion and acting during the first machine cycle after the selection of a mold by the rotary adjustment of the disc to effect the proper adjustment of the ejector mechanism, and instrumentalities associated with the selected mold for controlling such adjustment.

5. A slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted molds mounted on a disc arranged for rotary adjustment by a driving pinion to bring any selected mold into use, which pinion is movable to uncouple it from and recouple it with the driving mechanism before and after such rotary adjustment of the disc respectively, and with an ejector mechanism adjustable as to blade width to correspond with the slot length of the selected mold; characterized in this, that the mechanism provided for effecting such ejector blade adjustment includes devices controlled by said movement of the driving pinion for effecting a neutral setting of the ejector mechanism, means acting during the first machine cycle after the selection of a mold to effect the proper adjustment of the ejector mechanism, instrumentalities associated with the selected mold for controlling such adjustment, and a lock operating normally to hold said adjusting means inactive, said lock being rendered inoperative prior to the commencement of said machine cycle and rendered operative prior to the conclusion of said machine cycle but after the adjustment of the ejector mechanism has been made.

6. A slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted molds mounted on a disc arranged for'rotary adjustment by a driving pinion to bring any selected mold into use, which pinion is movable to uncouple it from and recouple it with its driving mechanism before and after such rotary adjustment of the disc respectively, and with an ejector mechanism adjustable as to blade width to correspond with the slot length of the selected mold; characterized in this, that the mechanism provided for effecting such ejector blade adjustment includes devices controlled by said movement of the driving pinion for effecting a neutral setting of the ejector mechanism, means also controlled by said movement of the driving pinion and operable during the first machine cycle after the selection of a mold by the rotary adjustment of the disc to effect the proper adjustment of the ejector mechanism, and instrumentalities including the mold liner of the selected mold for controlling such adjustment.

7. A slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted molds mounted on a disc arranged for rotary adjustment by a driving pinion to bring any selected mold into use, which pinion is movable to uncouple it from and recouple it with its driving mechanism before and after such rotary adjustment of the disc respectively, and with an ejector mechanism adjustable as to blade width to correspond with the slot length of the selected mold; characterized in this, that the mechanism provided for effecting such ejector blade adjustment includes ing pinion for effecting a neutral setting of the ejector mechanism, means operable during the first machine cycle after the selection of a mold by the rotary adjustment of the disc to effect the proper adjustment of the ejector mechanism, and instrumentalities including the mold liner of the selected mold for controlling such adjustment, said mold liner having a straight surface actively cooperating in such control and which is located in a predetermined plane according to the slot length of the selected mold.

8. A slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted molds mounted on a disc arranged for rotary adjustment by a driving pinion to bring any selected mold into use, which pinion is movable to uncouple it from and recouple it with its driving mechanism before and after such rotary adjustment of the disc respectively, and with an ejector mechanism adjustable as to blade width to correspond with the slot length of the selected mold; characterized in this, that the mechanism provided for effecting such ejector blade adjustment includes devices controlled by said movement of the driving pinion for efiecting a neutral setting of the ejector mechanism, means operable during the first machine cycle after the selection of a mold by the rotary adjustment of the disc to effect the proper adjustment of the ejector mechanism, and instrumentalities including a straight reference surface associated with the selected mold and which actively cooperates in controlling such adjustment, said surface being located in a predetermined plane according to the slot length of the selected mold.

9. A slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted molds mounted on a disc arranged for rotary adjustment by a driving pinion to bring any selected mold into use, which pinion is movable to uncouple it from and recouple it with its driving mechanism before and after such rotary adjustment of the disc respectively, and with an ejector mechanism adjustable as to blade width to correspond with the slot length of the selected mold; characterized in this, that the mechanism provided for effecting such ejector blade adjustment includes devices controlled by said movement of the driving pinion for effecting a neutral setting of the ejector mechanism, means operable during the first machine cycle after the selection of a mold by the rotary adjustment of the disc to effect the proper adjustment of the ejector mechanism, and instrumentalities including a straight reference surface presented by an element of the selected mold and which actively cooperates in controlling said adjustment, said surface being located in a predetermined plane according to the slot length of the selected mold.

10. A slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted molds mounted on a disc which is rotatable during each machine cycle to move the mold in use from its normal or slug ejecting position to a slug casting position and then back to the slug ejecting position, and which also is arranged for rotary adjustment to bring any selected mold into use, and with an ejector mechanism adjustable as to blade width to correspond with the slot length of the selected mold; characterized in this, that the mechanism provided for efiecting such ejector blade adjustment includes devices for effecting a neutral setting of the ejector mechanism, means operable during the first machine cycle after the selection of a mold by the rotary adjustment ofthe'disc devices controlled by said movement of the drivto effect the prop'er-adjustment of the ejector mechanism, and instrumentalities associated with the selected mold for controlling such adjustment and which are rendered active as such mold is brought into slug casting position.

' 11. A slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted molds mounted on a disc which is rotatable during each machine cycle to move the mold in use from its normal or slug ejecting position to a slug casting position and then back to the slug ejecting position, and which also is arranged for rotary adjustment to bring any selected mold into use, and with an ejector mechanism adjustable as to blade width to cor- .respond with the slot length of the selected mold; characterized in this, that the mechanism provided for effecting such ejector blade adjustment includes devices for effecting a neutral setting of the ejector mechanism, means operable during the first machine cycle after the selection of a mold by the rotary adjustment of the disc to effect the proper adjustment of the ejector mechanism, and instrumentalities including a reference surface associated with the selected mold and which actively cooperates in controlling such adjustment when the selected mold is brought into slug casting position in said cycle, said reference surface being located according to the slot length of the selected mold.

12. A slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted molds mounted on a disc which is rotatable during each machine cycle to move the mold in use from its normal or slug ejecting position to a slug casting position and then back to the slug ejecting position, and which also is arranged for rotary adjustment to bring any selected mold into use, and with an ejector mechanism adjustable as to blade width to correspond with the slot length of the selected mold; characterized in this, that the mechanism provided for effecting such ejector blade adjustment includes devices for effecting a neutral setting of the ejector mechanism, means operable during the first machine cycle after the selection of a mold by the rotary adjustment of the disc to effect the proper adjustment of the ejector mechanism, and instrumentalities including the mold liner of the selected mold for controlling such adjustment, said liner having a surface actively cooperating in such control when said mold is brought into slug casting position, said liner surface being located according to the slot length of the selected mold.

13. A slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted molds mounted on a disc which is rotatable during each machine cycle to move the mold in use from its normal or slug ejecting position to a slug casting position and then back to the slug ejecting position, and which also is arranged for rotary adjustment to bring any selected mold into use, and with an ejector mechanism adjustable as to blade width to correspond with the slot length of the selected mold; characterized in this, that the mechanism provided for effecting such ejector blade adjustment includes devices for effecting a neutral setting of the ejector mechanism, means operable by power derived from the main cam shaft of the machine for eifecting the proper adjustment of the ejector mechanism, and instrumentalities associated with the selected mold for controlling such adjustment and which are rendered active as said mold is brought into slug casting position.

14. A slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted molds mountedon a disc which is rotatable during each machine cycle to move the mold in use from its normal or slug ejecting position to a slug casting position and then back to the slug ejecting position, and Which also is arranged for rotary adjustment to bring any selected mold into use, and with an ejector mechanism adjustable as to blade Width to correspond with the slot length of the selected mold; characterized in this, that the mechanism provided for effecting such ejector blade adjustment includes devices for effecting a neutral setting of the ejector mechanism, a linkage operated by a cam on the main cam shaft for automatically adjusting the ejector mechanism, and instrumentalities including a reference surface positioned according to the slot length of the selected mold for controlling such adjustment, said surface being rendered active as said mold is brought into slug casting position.

15. A slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted molds mounted on a disc which is rotatable during each machine cycle to move the mold in use from its normal or slug ejecting position to a slug casting position and then back to the slug ejecting position, and which also is arranged for rotary adjustment to bring any selected mold into use, and with an ejector mechanism adjustable as to blade width to correspond with the slot length of the selected mold; characterized in this, that the mechanism provided for effecting such ejector blade adjustment includes devices for effecting a neutral setting of the ejector mechanism, a linkage operated by a cam on the main cam shaft for automatically adjusting the ejector mechanism, and instrumentalities for controlling such adjustment, said instrumentalities including a projection formed integral with the liner of the selected mold and of a length dependent upon the slot length of said mold, said projection, when the selected mold is in casting position, being located so as to cooperate with the linkage and determine the extent to Which the ejector mechanism is adjusted thereby.

16. A slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted molds mounted on a disc which is rotatable during each machine cycle to move the mold in use from its normal or slug ejecting position to a slug casting position and then back to the slug ejecting position, and which also is arranged for rotary adjustment by a driving pinion to bring any selected mold into use, the pinion being movable to uncouple it from and recouple it with the driving mechansm before and after such rotary adjustment of the disc respectively, and with an ejector mechanism adjustable as to blade width to correspond with the slot length of the selected mold; characterized in this, that the mechanism provided for effecting such ejector blade adjustment includes devices controlled by said pinion movement for effecting a neutral setting of the ejector mechanism, means operating as the selected mold is brought into casting position during the first machine cycle after the selected of the mold by the rotary adjustment of the disc to effect the proper adjustment of the ejector mechanism, and instrumentalities associated with the selected mold for controlling said adjustment.

17. A slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted molds mounted on a disc which is rotatable during each machine cycle to move the mold in use from its normal or slug ejecting position to a slug casting position and then back to the slug ejecting position, and which also is arranged for rotary adjustment by a driving pinion to bring any selected mold into use, the pinion being movable to uncouple it from and recouple it with its driving mechanism before and after such rotary adjustment of the disc respectively, and with an ejector mechanism adjustable as to blade Width to correspond with the slot length of the selected mold; characterized in this, that the mechanism provided for effecting such ejector blade adjustment includes devices controlled by said pinion movement for effecting a neutral setting of the ejector mechanism, power operated means acting as the selected mold is brought into casting position during the first machine cycle after the selection of the mold by the rotary adjustment of the disc to effect the proper adjustment of the ejector mechanism, and instrumentalities associated with the selected mold for controlling said adjustment.

18. A slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted molds mounted on a disc which is rotatable during each machine cycle to move the mold in use from its normal or slug ejecting position to a slug casting position and then back to the slug ejecting position, and which also is arranged for rotary adjustment by a driving pinion to bring any selected mold into use, the pinion being movable to uncouple it from and recouple it with the driving mechanism before and after such rotary adjustment of the disc respectively, and with an ejector mechanism adjustable as to blade width to correspond with the slot length of the selected mold; characterized in this, that the mechanism provided for effecting such ejector blade adjustment includes devices controlled by said pinion movement for effecting a neutral setting of the ejector mechanism, means operated from the main cam shaft and acting as the selected mold is brought into casting position during the first machine cycle after the selection of the mold to effect the proper adjustment of the ejector mechanism, and instrumentalities associated with the selected mold for controlling said adjustment.

19. In or for a, slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted molds mounted on a disc arranged for rotary adjustment by a driving pinion to bring any selected mold into use and arranged also for axial movement into and out of mesh with the pinion while the latter remains stationary, a slide movable from an inactive position to an active position wherein it cooperates with the disc to prevent rotary movement of the same when it is moved axially out of mesh with the pinion.

20. A slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted molds mounted on a disc arranged for rotary adjustment by a driving pinion to bring any selected mold into use, which pinion is movable to uncouple it from and recouple it with its driving mechanism before and after such rotary adjustment of the disc respectively, and with an ejector mechanism adjustable as to blade width to correspond with the slot length of the selected mold; characterized in this, that the mechanism provided for eifecting such ejector blade adjustment includes devices controlled by said movement of the driving pinion for effecting a neutral setting of the ejector mechanism, and means conditioned by such movement of the driving pinion for automatically adjusting the ejector mechanism in accordance with the slot length of the mold selected by the rotary adjustment of the disc during the first machine cycle following the selection of a mold.

21. A slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted molds mounted on a disc arranged for rotary adjustment by a driving pinion to bring any selected mold into use, which pinion. is movable to uncouple it from and reccuple it with its driving mechanism before and after such rotary adjustment of the disc respectively, and with an ejector mechanism adjustable as to blade width to correspond with the slot length of the selected mold; characterized in this, that the mechanism provided for effecting such ejector blade adjustment includes devices controlled by said movement of the driving pinion for efiecting a neutral setting of the ejector mechanism, means conditioned by such movement of the driving pinion for automatically adjusting the ejector mechanism in accordance with the slot length of the selected mold during the first machine cycle following the selection of a mold, said means normally being held inoperative by a lock which is rendered inactive by said movement of the driving pinion.

22. A slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted molds mounted on a disc arranged for rotary adjustment by a driving pinion to bring any selected mold into use, which pinion is movable to uncouple it from and recouple it with its driving mechanism before and after such rotary adjustment of the disc respectively, and with an ejector mechanism adjustable as to blade width to correspond with the slot length of the selected mold; characterized in this, that the mechanism provided for effecting such ejector blade adjustment includes devices controlled said movement of the driving pinion for effecting a neutral setting of the ejector mechanism, means conditioned by such movement of the driving pinion for automatically adjusting the ejector mechanism in accordance with the slot length of the selected mold during the first machine cycle following the selection of a mold, means normally being held inoperative by a lock which is rendered inactive by said movement of the driving pinion and is subsequently rendered active after the adjustment of the ejector mechanism.

23. A slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted molds mounted on a disc arranged for rotary adjustment by a driving pinion to bring any selected mold into use, which pinion is movable to uncouple it from and recouple it with its driving mechanism before and after such rotary adjustment of the disc respectively, and with an ejector mechanism adjustable as to blade width to correspond with the slot length of the selected mold; characterized in this, that the mechanism provided for effecting such ejector lade adjustment includes devices controlled by said movement of the driving pinion for effecting a neut 'al setting of the ejector mechanism, means conditioned by such movement of the drivpinion for automatically adjusting the ejector mechanism in accordance with the slot length of the selected mold during the first machine cycle following the selection of a mold, and devices for automatically disabling said adjusting means after an adjustment of the ejector mechanism and for maintaining said means in disabled condition until a new mold is selecte 2a. A slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted molds mounted on a disc which is rotatable during each machine cycle to move the mold in use from its normal or slug ejecting position to a slug casting position and then back to the slug ejecting position, and which also is arrangedfor rotary adjustment to bring any selected mold into use, and with an ejector mechanism adjustable as to blade width to correspond with the slot length of the selected mold; characterized in this, that the mechanism provided for effecting such ejector blade adjustment includes automatic means operable during the first machine cycle after the selection of a mold to effect the proper adjustment of the ejector mechanism, said means cooperating with the selected mold while in slug casting position in controlling said adjustment.

25. A slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted. molds mounted on a disc which is rotatable during each machine cycle to move the mold in use from its normal or slug ejecting position to a slug casting position and then back to the slug ejecting position, and which also is arranged for rotary adjustment to bring any selected mold. into use, and with an ejector nechanism adjustable as to blade Width to correspond with the slot length of the selected mold; characterized in this, that the mechanism provided for effecting such ejector blade adjustment includes automatic means operable during the first machine cycle after the selection of a mold by the rotary adjustment of the disc to effect the proper adjustment of the ejector mechanism, and instrumentalities associated with the selected mold for controlling such adjustment and which are rendered active as such mold is brought into slug casting position.

26. A slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted molds mounted on a disc arranged for rotary adjustment by a driving pinion to bring any selected mold into use, which pinion is movable to uncouple it from and recouple it with its driving mechanism before and after such rotary adjustment of the disc respectively, and with an ejector mechanism adjustable as to blade width to correspond with the slot length of the selected mold, said mechanism including a main actuating slide, a series of blade sections arranged in superposed edge to edge relation, and a shiitable element to connect any selected number of blade sections to the main actuating slide; characterized in this, that the mechanism provided for effecting such ejector blade adjustment includes devices acting during said movement of the pinion to shift the ejector connecting element to a neutral position, and automatic means operable when the selected mold arrives in casting position during the first machine cycle after the selection of a mold to adjust the shiftable element to connect the proper number of blade sections to the actuating slide as the slot length in the selected mold requires.

2'2. A slug casting machine equipped with a plurality of slotted molds mounted on a disc arranged for rotary adjustment by a driving pinion to bring any selected mold into use, which pinion is movable to uncouple it from and recouple it with its driving mechanism before and after such rotary adjustment of the disc respectively, and with an ejector mechanism adjustable as to blade width to correspond wtih the slot length of the selected mold, said mechanism including a main actuating slide, a series of blade sections arranged in superposed edge to edge relation, and a shiftable element to connect any selected number of blade sections to the main actuating slide; characterized in this, that the mechanism provided for effecting such ejector blade adjustment indered inactive by said pinion movement and then 10 again active during the first machine cycle following the selection of a mold and after the ejector blade adjustment therefor has taken place.

anism, a mold liner as herein described provided at the end opposite the mold cavity and outside the limits of the mold with a projection which determines the ejector adjustment and which lies in the plane of the body portion of the liner.

29. In or for a slug casting machine equipped with an automatically adjustable ejector mechanism, a series of mold liners each provided at the end opposite the mold cavity and outside the limits of the mold with a projection which determines the ejector adjustment and which lies in the plane of the body portion of the liner, said projections varying in extent dependent upon the slot lengths of the molds of which they form a 28. In or for a slug casting machine equipped 15 part.

with an automatically adjustable ejector mech- PAUL HILPMAN. 

